Garment press



May 1, 1928. 1,667,811

J. C. LEDBETTER GARMENT PRESS Original Filed Oct. 27. 1925 3.5heets-Sheet 1 FNVENTOR BY Y J ATroRNEws May I, 1928.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 36 O 6 f ///1 /1 2f 0 o i l 4 3 I; 3/

I, 52 W I I O I 6 v 33 a, 4 6 90 1 6 w l 37 I I l o 3 r I Q, 1

a o a 20 L INVENTOR James C 1 edfiezier May 1, 192a. mammal J. C. LEDBETTER GARMENT PRES S Driznal filed Oct. 27. 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q a o J2 H d h. 47 .4. gay /5 #5 1 f I O y z v INVEN-TOR James C A e'deffer ORNEYS and easily operated Eli UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. LEDBETTER, OF

GOMPANY, INCL, 0F SYBAQUSE, NE

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE PROSPERITY W YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GARMENT PRESS.

Application filed October 27, 1923,

This invention relates to pressing ma-- chines, and more particularly to garment presses h signed to aving improvements therein deproduce smooth, efficient, quiet,

presses capable of producing great pressure. p

A main ob ect of the invention is to provide improvements iii power pressing machines having ing stress absorbed provisions by which the openes and strains of the machine are against a pneumatic cushion, the

compressed air from which is in turn utilized to open the press, unnecessary the use of for o niug the press.

machine press lightly under sequently increasing A urt-her object is thereby rendering springs or weights to produce a pressing facilities for closin the initial pressure ant sub the compression between having the closed press jaw members to produce final high pressure with minimum physical eitort.

With the above principal objects in view,

the inven combinati t-ion has relation to an improved on and arrangement of parts; and

the accompanying drawings illustrate preterred embodiments ot the invention serving to disclose the construction and mode of operation varied in without departing from the thereof. construction,

The machine may be operation and use principle of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates the pressing machine in side elevation and in open position, the machine being shown in part section such as would Fi ure 3.

4 igure be veloped on the line 2-2 of 2 shows a side view of the pressing machine, similarly in partly vertical sec tion, with Figure taken on Figure the ress in closed position. 3 snows a horizontal section as the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

t illustrates a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the pneumatic releasing or the air on press opening device together with shioning device designed to absorb the opening shock of the moving parts.

Referring further to the drawings for a more detailed description of there is shown a pressing upon which a press lever forward end of the press lever carand the the invention, machine frame 6 7 is pivoted at 8;

tries a. pressing head or upper jaw 9 which is adapts d to engage with great pressure Serial No. 671,119. Renewed September 23, 1927.

upon the buck or lower jaw 10. A hand hold bar or handle 11 by which the head is manually moved downwardly into contact with the buck is carried by the head. The rear end of the press lever carries a counter balance weight 12 designed to balance the head 9 thereby rendering the head easy to move into closed position by the manual effort of the operator pulling down on the hand 11, and in this machine the function of the weight is to balance the head and not to overlie-lance the head to raise it, for I employ improved means for raising the head after the pressin operation which eliminates springs an weights heretofore employed for such purpose. I

A toggle link 14, comprising a suitable pressure compensating spring with len th adjuster hand wheel and nut, is pivota ly swung on a bearing 13 carried by the rear end of the press lever 7 and this link is pivoted to a link 15 the lower end of which carries a hub 16; The lower end of this main operating toggle 14-15 contains a roller bearing 17 in the hub within which a cam or eccentric lifting means 18 is rotatably confined against the said roller hearing. The coin is fixed to a shaft 19 which is 'ournaled in the frame of the pressing mac inc, and an arm 20 is likewise fixed to the shaft 19. The cam is therefore capable of being rotated'by oscillating the arm 20, and suitable manual or operator actuated power means is provided for thus operating the arm and cam for producing high pressure as will he described. When the pressing machine is in normally open position as shown in Figure 1, the arm 20 stands in a Vertical position with the cam 18 rotated to the low horizontal position, and similarly after the press head is closed, the cam remains in the same posit ihn until forcibly revolved by the final pressure creating means as will he described.

A toggle, comprising pivotally connected links 24 and 25, has its upper end pivoted at 26 on the frame and its lower and pivotally connected at 27 to the cam operating arm :20. A power means, in this instance a pedal or lever 28, is pivoted at 29 on the frame; and a draw link 30 connects the pedal with a toggle operating lever 31 which lever ispivoted at 32 upon the ress frame, the longer end of the lever 31 bein connected with the toggle 24-25 through e'agency its of a link 33. It is now understood how the pedal 28 is adapted to swing the lever 31 which in turn straightens the toggle 2 l25 thereby swinging the cam driving arm 20 downwardly to a horizontal position as shown in Figure 2, and thus the cam 18 is rotated upwardlytoits position of maximum height which correspondingly lifts the straightened toggle let-15 to produce high pressure between the pressing members 9 and 10. The operation of the pedal 28 is accomplished with little manual effort by reason of the fact that the cam rotates in roller bearings. The press lever 7 is preferably similarly mounted upon roller bearings whereby the head 9 is easily brought downvinto contact with the buck 10 prior to manipulation of the pedal 28.

It is to be observed that the cam rotating arm 20 is swingable through a ninety degree arc, and the pedal and toggle mechanism is therefore designed to oscillate the arm 20 through one quarter of a revolution to roll the cam in the roller bearings to its uppermost position; and at the beginning of the pedal stroke, it is observed that the arm 20 easily starts without resistance by virtue of the light contacting engagement existing between the closed head and buck press jaws 9 and 10, but as the pedal 28 continues its downward movement, the resistance increases against turning the cam. As the said resistance builds up, the toggle 25 gradually approaches a straight position thereby rapidly over-coming the said increasin resistance offered to the rotating cam. At the end of the cam rotation, the cam arm 20 has reached a horizontal position as shown in Figure 2 with the toggle 24-25 straightened out in a vertical bracing position and is held locked by virtue of the straightened position of the toggle 3l- 33. Thus it is observed how the design and arrangement of arts are so laid out as to obtain the maximum working efiieiency, thus making for ease and convenience in operation of the manually operated high power press. Furthermore all the pedal travel or stroke is utilized to impose final high pressure between the head and buck, thus providing a high leverage operating mechanism requirin" vthe expenditure of minimum effort on the operators part.

A pressing machine of this character capable of generating great pressure necessarily requires efficient opening mechanism by which the substantially large quantity of power built or stored up in the machine parts while under compression may be quietly and safely expended or absorbed at the inception of the press opening movement; and to this end I provide a dashpot desi ned to absorb the first opening shock of the press, the operation of which -generates compressed air which is subsequently utilized to break the main operating toggle and raise the head. Accordingly, a dashpot cylinder 37 is mounted upon the press frame. A piston 38 reciproeates in the dashpot and carries a flap valve 39 pivotally mounted over a valve intake port 40 in the piston. When the piston travels upwardly, the valve 39 seats thereby closing the port 40, and thus air is confined under pressure in the upper portion of the dashpot cylinder, but when the dashpot moves downwardly, the valve 39 opens to permit air under atmospheric pressure to flow into the dashpot. A piston connecting rod 41 pivotally connects the piston 38 with the pedal 28 and thus the upward violent motion of the pedal 28 is opposed by the air lock or cushion formed in the dashpot during the first opening stage or cycle of the pressing machine.

Means are employed to break the main operatin" toggle lll5 for the purpose of raising the head 9 away from the buck and oil of the work after the pressing operation has been completed, and to this end I provide a pneumatic motor supplied by air from the dashpot which acts to break the toggle 14-15 rearwardly thus swinging the press lever T to lift the head 9. The pneumatic cylinder it is fixed to the frame and connected with the dashpot through a pipe 45. A valve 46 is included in the pipe and has a handle 41' which is pierced and in which a valve operating member 48 is slidably confined. This valve rod -18 is attached to the main operating toggle and has bosses or lugs 49 and 50 adapted to engage the handle at? to open and close the valve in step with the moving parts of the pressing machine. A piston 51 and connecting rod 52 reciprocates in the pneumatic cylinder ll and connects with the link 15 of the main operating toggle. When the air under pressure is forced from the dashpot 37 through the pipe -15 into the cylinder -14, the action of the pneumatic motor is to kick back on the straight toggle lt15 to instantly break it by moving it olf of dead center, and the compressed air flowing into the pneumatic motor cylinder, quickly raises the head to its uppermost position.

A kieleoil" pedal 54: is pivoted on the machine and designed to start the pedal 28 upwardly after it has been forced down to produce high pressure. This hick-oil" pedal is located directly beneath the pedal 28 and the operator depresses it to start the pedal upward, and once the toggle 3l33 has moved back across its dead center locked position, the expansion of the press quickly and powerfully reacts through the cam 18 and arm 20, the etlect of which is to drive the pedal 28 upwardly with great force. A spring 57 serves to aid in bringing the pedal up to its normal position. A high powered ill) ltlt) 7 operating toggle "1415,

air 'in t e dashpot is compressed to a high degree which flows directly into the pneumatic motortoinstantlybreak the main operating toggle and drive it rearwardly to its limited position, thus raising the head 9 by the opening force thereof and'causing' the otherwise wasted energy to lift the head. Since my pressing. springs nor a weight tojerk the head up at the end of the pressing operation,"'it is worked with greater ease than presses now on the market. 7 The head being perfectly. balanced, it goes down readily by a light pull of the operator, and as readily rises under the impulse of the air'motor,

During therearward travel of the main the valve rod 48 engages the valve handle 47 which swings it over to one side and opens the valve port to atmosphere, thereby properly setting the valve 46 for the manual press closing operation, for as the operator brings the head down in contact with the buck, the air con-- fined in the pneumatic motor is discharged through the valve port 55 into atmosphere and thus the closing operation is accomplished without any resistance on the part of the pneumatic motor. By the time the press is closed, the lug 49 on the valve rod 48 has again returned the valve handle 47 to its normal position thereby closing off the valve port and reconnecting the dashpot with the pneumatic motor making ready for the next opening operation. I

This invention and improved press is pre sented to fill the need felt for a high jaw compression operator actuated machine; and with the sensitively balanced head and press lever, and no weights'or springs to be overcome in closingthe head, embodying power head lifting means drawing its motive power from the dynamic pressing efi'ort of the machine itself; and is believed to be new and useful as described.

It is now seen that I have produced a new press wherein jaws are carried on the frame and opened and closed in any suitable manher, as for example by operating means 7- 11 and the toggle 1415, the latter serving to hold the press was closed when the head 9 is brought down onto the buck by the operating handle 11. A part or a member, of the operating means, "such as the toggle link 15 is supported on the eccentric means 18. The latter element may be considered the first in a train of mechanism or means to produce'jaw compression and the mechanism includes toggles, suitably proportioned and connected, by which the short stroke pedal 28 imparts a long rotary movement to the cam 18 which produces a thrust upwardly through the toggle 14-15 to generate high compression between the jaws. In this way machine employs no produce ahigh powered operator actuated ress.. 7 .What I claim is:

1. A pressingimachine comprising cooper.-

ating press members one of which is movable, a handle carried by the movable press member by which the operator swings said movable member into contact with the other member to close the press, a toggle and means connecting its upper end with the movable press member, a cam rotatably .journaled in and'adapted to pivotally support the toggle at its lower end, an arm fixed to the cam and adapted to revolve the cam, and a power pedal and means connecting it with the arm by which the full pedal stroke is utilized in rotating the cam to thrust upwardly on the toggle thereby forcing the contacting members into compression.

2. A. pressing machine comprising a frame, cooperating press members carried thereby one of which is movable, a handle carried upon the movable press member by which the operator swings the said movable member into contact with the other member to close the press, a toggle connected with the movable member, a lifting cam upon which the toggle is pivotally supported, an arm fixed to said cam, a second toggle having one end pivotally fixed to the frame and the other end pivotally attached to the arm, and a power pedal and means'connecting it with the second toggle by'w-hich .the full pedal stroke is utilized in straightening the 7 second toggle to rotate the lifting cam onequarter turn to force the contacting press members into compression.

3. A pressing machine comprising cooperating press members one of which is movable, a handle carried upon the movable press member by which the operator closes the press, a linkage connected with the movable member, a cam upon which the linkage is pivotally supported at its lower end, an arm fixed to the cam, a toggle having one end fixed pivotally and the other end pivotally attached to the arm, a power pedal connected with the toggle by which the full pedal stroke is utilized in swinging the arm and rotating the cam, a dashpot connected with the said power pedal by which the strain incident to the opening of the press is dissipated against an air cushion, and means by which the compressed air in the dashpot is utilized to raise the press head after the high pressure is removed from the contacting press members.

4. A pressing machine comprising cooperating press members one of which is fixed and the other being movable in relation there-' to, a handle carried upon the movable press member by which the operator swings said down into contact with the a linkage movable member other member to close the press,

connected with the movable member, a lifting cam upon which the linkage is pivotally supported at its lower end, an arm fixed to the cam, a toggle having one end fixed pivotally and the other end pivotally attached to the arm, a power pedal connected with the toggle by which the full pedal stroke is utilized in straightening the toggle to oper-' ate the arm and cam, and a kick-off pedal adapted to thrust up against the power pedal to open the press.

5. A pressing machine comprising cooperating press members one of which is fixed and the other being movable in relation thereto, a handle carried upon the movable press member by which the operator swings said movable member down into contact with the other member to close the press by hand power, a linkage connected with the movable member, a lifting cam upon which the linkage is pivotally supported at its lower end, an arm fixed to the cam, a toggle having one end fixed pivotally and the other end pivotally attached to the arm, a power pedal connectcd with the toggle by which the full pedal stroke is utilized in swinging the arm to force the contacting members into compression, a kickoll' pedal adapted to thrust up against the pedal to open the press, and a dashpot cooperating with the moving press parts to absorb the opening shock.

(3. A pressing machine comprising cooperating press members one of which is fixed and the other being movable in relation thereto, a handle carried upon the movable press member by which the operator swings said movable member down into contact with the other member to manually close the press. a linkage connected with the movable n'iember, a cam upon which the linkage is pivotally supported at its lower end, a toggle having one end fixed pivotally and means connecting the other end to the cam, a power pedal connected with the toggle by which the full pedal stroke is utilized in revolving the cam, a hick-Oil pedal adapted to thrust up against the toot pedal to open the press, a cushioning dashpot connected with the power pedal. pneumatic motor connected with the dashpot to raise the press head, and a valve control means operated by the moving press parts to control the pneumatic motor.

7. A pressing machine comprising press members, an operator actuated means to close the press and produce compression. a pneumatic release motor means for opening the press, and a dashpot connected with one of the members to restraiuthe machine against sudden opening movement when released and connected by an air passage with the motor means.

8. A pressing machine comprising relatively movable pressing members, a press lever carrying one member, a toggle connected with the press lever and having a hub formed on the lower end thereof, a roller bearing pivotally working in the hub, a cam one member and adapted to open and close the members, a cam rotatably supporting the lower end of the link mechanism, a shaft fixed to the cam, an arm fixed to the shaft, and a pedal and means connecting it with the arm to rotate the cam.

10. A pressing machine comprising relatively movable pressing members, a link mechanism and means connecting it with one member to open and close the members, a cam rotatably supporting the lower end of the link mechanism, a shaft fixed to the cam, an arm fixed to the shaft, a pedal and means connecting it with the arm to rotate the cam, a dashpot attached to the pedal to absorb the opening shock of the pressing machine, and a pneumatic motor connecting with the dash pot. and a connection established between the link mechanism and the pneumatic motor.

11. A pressing machine comprising in combination, relatively movable pressing members. a pedal operated means for producing high pressure between the pressing members, a pneumatic motor and means connecting it with one of the pressing members for opening the press by motive power. a dashpot having connection with the pedal operated means to absorb the shock of the opening press, a connection between the dashpot and pneumatic motor by which the dashpot sup; plies motive power to the pneumatic motor, a valve included in the connection, and means for controlling the valve whereby the pneumatic motor is opened to atmosphere during the press closing movement.

12. A pressing machine comprising in combination, relatively movable pressing members and means for closing the members upon one another, a toggle and means connecting it with one press member and adapted to straighten during the closing of the press, a pneumatic motor having connection with the toggle to open the members, a means to produce an upward vertical thrust through the straightened toggle, a dashpot connected with the means adapted to absorb the shock expended by the press opening operation. and a conduit between the dashpot and pneumatic motor.

13. A pressing machine comprisin a frame, relatively movable pressing mem ers on the frame, a press lever carrying one of fixed to the cam and standing vertical, an

arm operating toggle pivotally connected with the arm and having its upper link pivoted on the frame, a pedal pivoted in the frame, and a substantially horizontal toggle operatively with the arm operating toggle by which the cam is rotated.

14. A pressing machine comprising press jaws, means for closing the jaws; a pedal and means connecting it with one of the press jawsto produce compression, an air motor and means connecting it with one of the press jaws for opening the press, and a dashpot and means connecting it with one of the press jaws to restrain theprcss againstsudden opening movement when opened, and a fluid connection between the air motor and dashpot." I

15. A press comprising, a frame, press jaws, and operating means to open and close the jaws; means to produce jaw compression comprising, eccentric means'journalled in the frame, a part of the operating means being supported on the eccentric means, a toggle one end of which is connected with the eccentric means and the other end of which is pivoted on the frame, and means to' operate the toggle to turn the eccentric means to produce jaw compression.

16. A presscomprising, a frame, press jaws, and operating means to open and close the jaws; means to produce'ja-w compression comprising, eccentric means journaled in the frame, apart of the operating means being supported on the eccentric means, a toggle one end of which is operatively connected with the eccentric means and the other end of which is pivoted on the frame, and a pedal and means connecting it with the toggle to actuate said toggle to rotate the cam to produce the jaw compression.

17. A press comprising, a. frame, press jaws, and operating means to open and close the jaws; means to produce jaw compressloncomprising, a cam journalcd in the frame; means, mcluding a member movably connected with one of the aws, and extendlng downwardly beneath the jaws and supported uponthe cam; a toggle-onc'end of'whieh operatively connected with vthe cam and the other end of which is pivoted on the frame, and means t operate the toggle to turn the cam to produce the jaw compression.

1 8. A press comprising, a frame, press jaws, and operating means, to open and close the jaws; means to produce .jawcoinpression.

comprising, a cam journaled in the frame;

connected with the pedal and frame; means,

means, mcluding a member to actuate one of the jaws, and extending downwardly beneath the jaws and supported upon the cam; a toggle one end of which is operatively connected with the cam and the other" end of jaw compression 19. A press comprising, a frame, press aws, and operating means to open and close the jaws; means to produce jaw compression comprising, eccentric means carried in the including a member connected with one of the jaws, and said means being supported on the eccentric means; a toggle connected with the eccentric means to rotate said eccentric means, and means to actuate the toggle to produce the jaw compression aforesaid.

20. A press comprising, a frame, press jaws, and operating means to open and'close the jaws; means to produce jaw compression comprising, eccentric means journaled in the frame; means, including a member connected with one of the jaws, and said means being supported on the eccentric means; an arm fixed to the eccentric means to rotate the same, a toggle operativelv connected with the arm, an operator operated device, and means connecting said device with the toggle to swing the arm to produee'the jaw compression aforesaid. v

- 21. A press comprising, a frame, press jaws, and operating means to open and close the jaws; means to produce jaw compression comprising, eccentric means journaled in the frame; means, including a member connected with one of the jaws, and said,means being supported on the eccentric means; an arm fixed to the eccentric'means to rotate the same, a first toggle operatively connected with the arm, a second toggle connected with the first toggle, an operator actuated device connected with the second'toggle and adapted to actuate both toggles and the arm to turn the eccentric means to effect the jaw compression aforesaid.

22. A press comprising, a frame, press jaws, operating means to open and close the jaws, eccentric means journaled in the frame,

.a first toggle and means connecting it with JAMES C. LEDBETTER. 

